Important Timely Information (Please Read)

 
GroupTerm Life Ins./Per Diem

Tuition Reimbursement Explanation

 

 

 

 

 

Tuition Reimbursement Explanation

Tuition Reimbursement is being handled under our new contract. We want to apologize up front for the lack of clarity and inconsistency in statements made by LEA leadership. Management has also made some contradictory statements, so the confusion is justified.

Simply put, the suspension of tuition reimbursement under this contract means that no one will receive tuition funds from the District for classes taken after the Summer of 2009. If tuition reimbursement is reinstated in the next contract, only classes taken after Summer of 2011 will be eligible. A more detailed explanation appears below for those who are interested.

As agreed in the new contract, Lakota Administrators are subject to the same two-year window of tuition reimbursement suspension.

We understand that the decision to suspend tuition reimbursement has negatively impacted a number of people, but the Negotiating Team felt that this was a necessary concession to resolve the contract.

Thank you for your support and patience as we work through the implementation of the new contract. As always, feel free to contact us with any concerns you may have that relate to the contract.

Sharon Mays, President
John Severns, First Vice President

Additional Explanation:
In a two-year Memorandum of Understanding, we agreed to suspend 18.0701 contingent upon the Board suspending the corresponding Board Policy for Administrators.

Section 18.071 reads: "The tuition reimbursement fund will be funded each year at $3.50 per student average daily membership for the district for the previous academic year."

By suspending 18.071, no funds were set aside for Fiscal Years '11 (July 2010 - Jun 2011) and '12 (July 2011 - June 2012). Normally, applicants apply by Oct. 1 for reimbursement for classes taken in the previous fall - summer. However, since there is $0 set aside this Fiscal Year for applicants who apply by 10/1/10 (for classes taken in the Fall '09, Spring of '10 and Summer of '10) there is nothing to divide amongst the applicants. In other words, the new agreement did not provide for "grandfathering" of classes already taken.

That means that in the future, we will be able to submit on 10/1/12 for classes taken in Fall '11, Spring '12 or Summer '12. (provided the suspension is lifted in the next contract).

 

 

Thinking of an Internal Transfer (Especially Special Areas)

Look for internal job postings at Lakotainline (link below). They will be posted for one (1) week only so be vigilant and check weekly. Seniority is based on hire date at the district.

Certified staff hired after August 10 are on an extended assignment and must wait for external posting.

 

 

Yearly Teacher Evaluation

Phase I and Phase II (not continuing contract)--Must be completed by April 3
List of everyone not returning by administration choice--April 30
Phase II Continuing Contract--Must be completed by May 24

 

 

 

LICENSURE FEE STRUCTURE

Type of License
Fee
FBI Background Check Fee*
Total Fee
Two-Year Provisional Teaching
$80
$46
$126
First 5-Year Prof. When Advancing From 2-Year Provisional to 5-Year Professional Following Successful Completion of Entry Year Program
$100
$46
$146
5-Year Asso. or Prof. Teaching
$200
$46
$246
5-Year Substitute License
$125
$46
$171
*Every five (5) years, everyone must undergo the FBI background check for a fee of $46 (money order made out to Lakota Local School District). Be sure to also bring along your photo ID driver's license. Fingerprinting will be done at Central Office.

 

 

 

 

GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE OVER $50K AND YOUR 12/15/09 PAYCHECK  (Information received from Mary Jones on 12/14/09)

Each year, the IRS requires that employers include the cost of group term life insurance over $50,000 as a taxable benefit on your W-2 as well as withhold the applicable taxes from your paycheck for this amount.

We determine this as follows:

  • Determine who had a basic life benefit of more than $50K in any given month (basic life benefit = 1.5 times annual base salary)
  • Multiply the basic life benefit amount over $50K by the number of months the employee had this benefit in the current calendar year
  • Then multiply this amount by a set number (cost per $1,000) given by the IRS, based on the employee’s age as of 12/31/09 (the higher an employee’s age, the higher the rate that the IRS uses)

The calculation of group term life insurance over $50,000 will appear on your 12/15/09 paycheck as a separate line item. While this amount does not increase or decrease your gross pay, it will increase the amount of tax withheld on the 12/15/09 paycheck.

This amount will also be included on your 2009 W-2 in boxes 1, 5, 12 and 16.

Example: John, who will be 56 years old on 12/31/09, had a basic life benefit of $72,000 each month for 12 months in 2009. We subtract $50,000 from $72,000 to determine how much is over $50K. We then take $22,000 x 12 months which equals $264,000 x .43 divided by 1,000 (the rates come from the IRS table) and come up with $113.52. $113.52 will be included on John’s 12/15 paycheck as life over $50K.

For more information about the taxation of Group Term Life Insurance Coverage, please see IRS Publication 15-B for 2009 at www.irs.gov.

To figure your extended contract pay, take your salary and divide by 184 per diem times .9 .

The contract runs from July 1 through June 30. Your new salary schedule for next school year (September, 2010) will begin with your first paycheck of the new school year in September (2010).

 

 

 

 

Do You Itemize Your Taxes?--The Portion of Your LEA Dues Deductible for the 2008 Tax Year.

FULL TIME DUES DEDUCTIBLE $ 697.75

HALF TIME DUES DEDUCTIBLE $ 439.92

QUARTER TIME DUES DEDUCTIBLE $ 222.55

 

 

 

 

 

Teachers--Cautions from OEA!

* Careful of picture phones in your classroom. You could be photographed by a student in a compromising photo.
*Be aware of Code of Conduct Provisions (Georgetta Kelly visited each building faculty meeting and reviewed provisons with staff members).
* Do not have My Space or Facebook postings. If something on the site can be interpreted as being questionable, the ODE may call it misconduct and you could lose your license.
* Google yourself every now and then to be sure that no one else has things posted online (without your knowledge) which could be interpreted as misconduct.
* Be careful when selecting online courses (especially those who originate in California). Look at the price (graduate credit hours cost more). Credits could be used for certification and CEU's but not for pay scale movement. Some sites offer "Professional Education Units" or "Continums." These ARE NOT graduate credit hours and therefore cannot be used when moving on the pay scale.

 

 

 

LEA Alert: Take Action Now! Cyberlobby Your State Representatives
CLICK Here to see matters that affect teachers and how you can be heard (health insurance, social security and your state retirement, etc).

 

 


Value Added Timeline, Contact Legislators, Right to Strike

Links are provided in this area for information of a timely interest. Discussions were held at our 9/12 rep meeting. Information was sent out to buildings but is also located here. Of importance to all teachers.

Link to the Teachers Connecting Achievement & Progress (Value Added) Timeline--3 Year

Information paper regarding Contacting Legislators about any issue.

OEA's press release about teachers' right to strike. Please read (CLICK HERE).


 


Ohio Department of Education--"Tools for Teachers" Resource

The Ohio Department or Education has an electronic communication resource for teachers called Tools for Teachers.

By clicking on toolsforteachers@ode.state.oh.us, teachers can add their names to an electronic mailing list that ODE uses to send timely announcements and information on licensure, awards, recognition programs, scholarships and professional development opportunities, and classroom tools such as model lesson plans.

Your registration with toolsforteachers@ode.state.oh.us allows ODE to send communications directly to you. When you click on the link, a new e-mail window will open up with "toolsforteachers" in the "to" line; simply add your name on the subject line and hit "send"  and your name and e-mail address will be added to our mailing list.

 

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Last Update: 11/8/10